There's something about Post Secret

Post Secret is getting bigger and bigger. But why?

It appeals to our humanity, and our basic instincts to express ourselves. Whether it is a happy secret or an awful one, I am always stirred to some sort of emotion by reading the postcards. The walls and rules that define society are suspended by the anonymity, and the fear that we will be rejected because of these secrets seems to dissappear. In many ways, this is the only way that people can be themselves. This is why I am, kindasorta, addicted!

For more information on Post Secret and to see how moving it really is, watch Frank himself discuss it in his ted.com talk 'Half a Million Secrets'.

There are many similar projects which explore the ways that we communicate, and I think that the most interesting thing about these 'social experiments' is that people feel that they can be more honest with a computer screen than they can in human interaction.

Another of these fascinating projects is wefeelfine.org which was set up by artist and techology analyst Jonathon Harris. This brings to the forefront of my mind how much we express ourselves online, to total strangers. And how much can be known about us just from our online activity. It is frightening, but it is also quite freeing.

Jonathon Harris is trying to bring together a global mythology, to interpret the world in which we live. This brings to the foreground the way that each of our thoughts and actions on the internet is important and can make a difference. And another of his projects, Universe, which organises the internet world into constellations in the night sky, is just as fascinating, but seems to have dissappeared from its webpage. Harris is exploring a world of connectivity and storytelling in our high-tech world.

Jonathon Harris' 'one photo a day' project is based around the idea of living life more richly, being more present in your own moments and appreciating what you have. It is all too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day rituals, to just motor along, and especially looking at things like post secret to become obsessed by the bad things, and forget the good. But we should be about more than 'getting through life'. We should enjoy every moment and make the most of what we have. It won't be there forever.

What I am striving for, right now, is an enhanced awareness. I don't want to let things slip by me unnoticed. And that is why this post is full of random bits, because they have all caught my attention and made me appreciate my life and the world around me.

Artists are trying to form languages to communicate accross the world. The Emoticon Project, from Samsung, has introduced me to several artists who make it their goal to express themselves and help those around them to do the same. Megan Whitmarsh, for example, uses beautiful colours, delicate stitching and passion. I love this canvas which she says tries to communicate "exuberance, joy and humour".

Visit meganwhitmarsh.com to see more of her art (its all awesome!).

I wish I could be an artist, but I cannot draw. So instead, I will share the art of others and celebrate the creatives that are out there. As Jonathon Harris says, life itself is your creation. I am creating my own story, and by golly will it be a good one!